How to Use Future Tense Forms in Croatian for English Speakers
Understanding the Future Tense in Croatian
In Croatian, expressing the future tense can be done in two main ways: the simple future and the compound future. Unlike English, which uses "will" or "going to," Croatian uses specific verb forms and auxiliary verbs to indicate future actions.
Simple Future Tense (Futur I)
The simple future tense in Croatian is formed by adding specific endings to the verb stem. This form is mostly used with verbs of motion or when the action is certain to happen.
For example, the verb ići (to go) in future simple is conjugated as follows:
- Ja ću ići (I will go)
- Ti ćeš ići (You will go)
- On/Ona/Ono će ići (He/She/It will go)
- Mi ćemo ići (We will go)
- Vi ćete ići (You all will go)
- Oni/One/Ona će ići (They will go)
Compound Future Tense (Futur II)
The compound future tense is formed using the auxiliary verb htjeti (to want) in the present tense plus the infinitive of the main verb. This is the most common way to express future actions in Croatian.
Conjugation of htjeti in present tense:
- Ja ću
- Ti ćeš
- On/Ona/Ono će
- Mi ćemo
- Vi ćete
- Oni/One/Ona će
To form the future tense, combine the correct form of htjeti with the infinitive of the main verb. For example, with the verb raditi (to work):
- Ja ću raditi (I will work)
- Ti ćeš raditi (You will work)
- On/Ona/Ono će raditi (He/She/It will work)
- Mi ćemo raditi (We will work)
- Vi ćete raditi (You all will work)
- Oni/One/Ona će raditi (They will work)
Using Future Tense in Croatian Sentences
The future tense is used to talk about actions that will happen later. It can express intentions, predictions, or plans.
Example sentences:
- Sutra ću ići u školu. (Tomorrow I will go to school.)
- On će kupiti novi auto. (He will buy a new car.)
- Mi ćemo putovati sljedećeg mjeseca. (We will travel next month.)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
English speakers often forget to conjugate the auxiliary verb htjeti correctly or confuse the simple and compound future forms.
- Do not use the infinitive alone without ću, ćeš, će, etc.
- Remember to match the auxiliary verb with the subject.
- Use the compound future for most verbs except a few motion verbs where simple future is common.
Further Reading
- Croatian Grammar - Future Tense
Detailed explanation of Croatian future tense forms and usage.
- Croatian Future Tense Guide
Step-by-step guide to forming future tense in Croatian.
- Linguajunkie Croatian Future Tense
Examples and exercises for Croatian future tense.